Introduction to Ancient Egypt

Today’s Objectives Be able to analyze material and convey what has been learned to classmates and teacher. Think critically and be polite to others. Take complete notes for use when making the postcard. Have fun and be actively engaged.

Enduring Understandings Environmental elements influence where civilizations develop and thrive to include movement of goods, ideas, culture and technology. Religion has had a significant impact on civilizations throughout history. River valleys provided early civilizations with the opportunity to develop and prosper.

Geography of Ancient Egypt Like Mesopotamia, Egypt was dependent upon the river for survival. Unlike the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians were better able to predict flooding would occur.

The Pharaohs The pharaoh was thought of as a god. People were supposed to obey him without question. This allowed for a strong government system that lasted for about 3,000 years.

Monuments Think of public works projects on a massive scale. Today’s equivalent would be the freeways. These buildings were constructed using the most basic of tools and designs.

The Nile Was central to life in ancient Egypt Giver and taker of life Central to religion Central to trade

Mummies, Tombs, and the Afterlife Egyptians believed in an afterlife and therefore needed a house in the afterlife, hence the tomb. Also they believed that in order for the soul to survive that the body also needed to exist, hence the mummy.

Daily Life Egyptians went fishing and hunting, and also played games. They also farmed like the Mesopotamians.

Inventions and Innovations Of course, irrigation was important but they also came up with a few other innovations and inventions. Some items to consider: Paper making—papyrus Medicine and surgical procedures Glass making

Egypt Nile River Boat Trip

Cairo Museum

Cairo Museum Was built at the beginning of the 20th Century Has beautiful gardens filled with statues Statues are outside because there’s no more room inside

Giza – Pharaoh Khufu (Old Kingdom)

Pharaoh Khufu Ruled from 2551-2528 BCE Ruled a unified Egypt Relatives helped him govern Was a harsh, cruel ruler Few records exist about him Only one small statue exists

Giza Pyramids Located SW of Cairo on a plateau 3 large pyramids are made of yellow limestone Largest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu Is over 450 ft. tall & was the tallest man-made structure until the 19th Century Great Pyramid covers 13 acres of ground Has more than 2,300,000 blocks of stone

Saqqara-Pharaoh Djoser (Old Kingdom)

Pharaoh Djoser Ruled from 2630-2611 BCE Helped with new developments in agriculture, increased trade, & developed more cities Fought foreign invaders Expanded Egypt farther south to Aswan

Saqqara Made of limestone & is over 200 ft. tall Located on west bank of Nile, south of Giza Was Egypt’s first pyramid Was likely the world’s first stone building Started as a flat mastaba, but has five increasingly smaller ones added on top

El-Amarna-Pharaoh Akhenaten (New Kingdom)

Pharaoh Akhenaten Ruled from 1353-1335 BCE Forced people to worship one god, Amon Built a new capital city Rule was very unpopular This city was destroyed after his death. His corpse has never been found, so it may have been destroyed too.

el-Amarna Located 150 mi. south & on east bank of Nile River Once had many unique & beautiful temples, pools, & gardens Surrounded by cliffs on both sides of Nile Had a Great Palace with an open-air temple to the one god Was destroyed after Akhenaten died to erase all evidence of this pharaoh

Karnak-Pharaoh Senusret I (Middle Kingdom)

Pharaoh Senusret I Ruled from 1971-1926 BCE Ruled with his father for more than 10 years Extended Egypt’s southern & western borders through war Protected gold, copper, & granite resources Encouraged cultural development & construction of many buildings, temples, & shrines

Karnak Located 200 mi. farther south along the Nile Has more than 200 acres of temples, chapels, obelisks, columns, & statues Was built over the course of 2,000 years Jubilee Chapel was built by Senusret 1 Was taken apart at one time & then pieced back together

Jubilee Chapel

Deir el-Bahri –Queen Hatshepsut (New Kingdom)

Pharaoh Hatshepsut Ruled from 1473-1458 BCE One of the few female rulers Became pharaoh by ruling with her brother & then his son, but declared herself sole ruler Organized trading expeditions to Punt & improved economy Many monuments were destroyed after death by the nephew

Deir el-Bahri Located on west bank of Nile, just upstream from Karnak Cut out of limestone cliffs Contains many pillars, chapels, & shrines to gods Contains temple of Hatshepsut, one of few female pharaohs Has a walled courtyard with a ramp leading to three raised terraces

Abu Simbel-Pharaoh Ramesses II (New Kingdom)

Pharaoh Ramesses II Ruled from 1290-1224 BCE One of most important pharaohs in Egyptian history Lived into his eighties Had more than 100 wives & more than 100 children Constructed huge building projects, palaces, a new capital, and repaired well, quarries, & mines Was skilled in warfare & was in many battles

Abu Simbel Located 300 mi. farther south Cut from sandstone cliffs Has four 65 ft. tall statues of Ramesses II (taller than a 6-story building) seated among smaller ones Inside is a hall more than 58 x 54 ft. containing pillars, hallways, & sculptures Had to be moved 213 ft. above original site in the 1960’s to protect it from rising water from a reservoir

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings This is where many pharaohs were buried in hidden tombs after pyramids became too expensive to build. King Tut’s tomb was found here. There was a town nearby for the many laborers and artists to live.